Steam separator for steam irons



May 18, 1948. F, W, BUSCH LT1-M 2,44L916 STEAM SEPARATOR- FOR STEAM 'IRONS Filed sept.l is; 1946 2 sheets-sheet 1 20 2 38` 9 I 35 3o h J a I az I L 6o I W K 7 2e? 26 .9 al] n I .IN1/M035 wijk @MMM :Cef-f f- May 18, 1948.

AFiled Sept. 16, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 8 Mw 7 z. l@ 9 75. n 2 z m/ /b 0 r TWD 3 l7 -wd Z. 9 2 m u. 7

i ra @YS Y Patented -May 18, 1948 2,441,916 STEAM SEPARATOR FOR STEAM IRONS Fred W. Busch and Charles H. Drewes, Milwaukee, Wis., Milwaukee. Wis.,

assknors to Mllsteel Products Co.,

a corporation of Wisconsin Application September 16, 1946, Serial No. 697,178

6 Claims. (Cl. 38-77) Our present invention relates in general to improvements in the art of manufacturing ilatirons and the like, and relates more especially to improvements in the construction and operation of electrically heated steam emitting irons primarily intended for household use.

The primary object of our invention is to provide a simple but reliable electric steam iron, which is durable in construction and safely operable by a novice, and which may also be manufactured and sold at moderate cost for diverse uses.

Many different types of steam emitting electrically heated ilatirons have heretofore been proposed, and several have been marketed with some success, but all of these prior proposals are more or less objectionable for various reasons. Most of the prior steam electric irons are too complicated in structure, unreliable and dangerous in operation, and too heavy and hard to manipulate, thus making them unsuitable for ordinary household use; and the prior fiatirons of this kind are also relatively costly and dimcult to assemble, adjust, and dismantle. For these and various other reasons, the prior commercial electrically heated steam irons have not proven highly popular with the trade, in spite of the :tact that steaming of the articles being ironed is recognized as being exceedingly desirable.

t is therefore a more specific object oi our invention to provide an improved electrically heated steam emitting fiatiron which obviates the more serious diiiculties and objections inherent in prior irons of this type, and which insures a uniform now of relatively dry steam to the ironing surfaces under varying conditions of operation and use. i l

Another speciiic object of the present invention is to provide a simplied steam electric iron assemblage which is light and easy to manipulate, and wherein the regulating and control mechanisms are concealed and amply protected while still being readily adjustable for most emcient operation.

A further specific object of this invention is to equipment is thoroughly protected against moisture, and which may be readily supplied with fresh liquid or emptied without danger, while all parts are readily accessible for-inspection and cleaning.

An additional speclc object of our invention is to provide an improved steam emitting electrically heated ironing unit, wherein the steam is most effectively generated and delivered to the work in proper condition, and which comprises relatively few simple and sturdy parts adapted to be' manufactured in quantity at moderate cost.

Another specic object of our present lnven.- tion is to provide an attractive and compact steam electric iron which may be conveniently Aadjusted to meet various operating conditions,

and which is equipped with thermostatic control mechanism adapted to safeguard the user while being constantly ready -for normal use.

These and other specic objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conceptionl of the numerous features constituting our present improvement, and of the mode of constructing and utilizing a typical electric steam iron embodying the invention, may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming. a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts inthe various views.

Fig. 1 is a part sectional top View of one of the improved steam-electric ironing units, the section having been taken approximately along the irregular line i-i of Fig. 2, and a portion oi the steam generating casing or body having been broken away in order to reveal some normally hidden parts;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section through all but the manipulating handle of the ironing unit of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear end view of the improved ironn `ing unit, with a portion of the rear end plate or cover-broken away so as to reveal some of the electrical connections;

Fig. 4 is a transverse verticai section through the unit 'of Fig. 2, taken along the line land looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 5 is another transverse vertical section through the same assemblage, taken along the iine 5--5 of Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

While the invention-has been shown and described herein as being especially and advantageously applicable to an electrically heated steam emitting i-latiron for household use, it is not our desire or intent to unnecessarily restrict the scope or utility of the improved features by virtue of this limited embodiment.

Referring to the drawings, the typical electric steam iron shown therein, comprises in general a shoe or sole plate l having an electric heating element 8 embedded therein and being provided with a iiat work engaging bottom surface 9; a maincasing or hollow body it detachably secured to the top of the sole plate 'I and having therein a horizontal bae plate II and an upright steam expansion chamber l2; an upper plate or cover It secured to the top of the body lli and cooperating with the body, chamber and sole plate to provide ample steam conducting and emitting passages leading from the interior of the casing I to the work; an upper closure shell I5 removably secured to the cover plate it and normally concealing the latter; a manipulating handle I6 detachably secured to the top of the shell I5 and being provided with a rear projection or heel Il, and with a rear cable guardV I8 for introducing the electrical conductors it into the ironing unit; a heat regulating thermostat mounted upon the sole plate 'i beneath the body l0 and having an actuating stem l steam pressure therefrom before the plug has been entirely removed, thus preventing steam or hot liquid from squirting through the plug opening onto the operators hand. The baie plate II may be secured within the body I0 during formation of the latter by casting, and extends longitudinally within the'liquid storage chamber from the front of the body to a point beyond the extending upwardly through a central conduit 22 formed in the body, and being provided at its upper end with a control knob or dial 23 journalled for rotation upon the top plate i4 beneath the cover shell l5; and a rear cap 241emovably attached to the body I0 and coacting with the sole plate and cover 'I5 to normally conceal the electrical connectors which connect the heating element 8 and the thermostat 20 with the conductors i9.

The sole plate 'I may be constructed of any suitable material adapted to be heated and to retain the heat, and the electric heating element B'may be embedded within the'sole plate l when the latter is being cast. The front portion of the sole plate I is provided with a steam superheating and distribution chamber or cavity 26 which is normally sealed by a disc 2l held in place by two screws 21', and the heating element 8 passes in close proximity to the opposite sides of this cavity 26 and around the forward portion thereof. A series of steam delivery passages 2B extend through the sole plate 'I radially and forwardly of the chamber 2B, and terminate at the lower surface ,9 of the plate; .and a bushing 2b which is threaded into the body iii and is accessible through the cavity 2t when the disc 2li has been removed, supports an upright steam conducting pipe 30 disposed centrally of the ste charnber i2, and also serves to firmly and detachably secure the front portion of the sole plate i to the main casing or body it, see Figs. 1, 2 and 5. The rear portion of the sole plate l is provided with a central elongated recess 3l for receiving electrical conductors, and is also firmly but detachably secured to the body i@ by two screws 32, see Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

A sheet 3d of heat insulating material such as asbestos 0f proper thickness, is applied to the major area between the sole plate i and body Ill, but not beneath the steam chamber I2; and the interior of the hollow body i0 provides a liquid storage chamber to which fresh liquid may be admitted beneath the shelf or bame plate Il, past a removable filling plug 35, see Figs. 2 and 4. This plug 35 coacts with a sealing gasket 3d and with a pressure relief port 31 formed in the body lo, in such a manner as to normally seal the liquid connning chamber, but to also release dit nlling opening, but spaced some distance from the rear body wall 38, see Fig. 2. With this relative disposition of the plate Il and filling opening, the liquid is confined beneath the baille when the iron is in horizontal position, but any steam or vapor generated within the body III is free to escape past the rear end of the baille plate III into the steam chamber or zone above the plate il. This space may if desired be filled with metal wool or other filtering material.

The conduit 22 is formed integral with the medial portion of the body I0 and the tubular steam expansion chamber i2 should be firmly secured within the body so as to seal the joints at the opposite end of the tube and between the plate II and the mid-portion `of the chamber I2. The upper front portion of the body casing I0 directly in back of the chamber i2, is provided with a tapered steam and vapor outlet opening 39 which communicates with a downwardly open pocket do formed in the cover plate I4, and this cover may be formed by casting, and is firmly but detachably secured to the body lil by means of screws A32. 'Ihe recess or pocket 4u is provided with a passage communicating with an adjustable spring-pressed safety relief valve 43, which permits escape of abnormally high pressure through a port 44, and is adjustable with the aid of a screw 45; and a horizontal perforated strainer tube 46 is disposed within the pocket 40 above the opening 39 and has one .end in open communication with the upper end of the expansion chamber I2, while its opposite end is normally sealed by a clean-out plug '41. The top plate or cover I4 also carries a separator tube 48 which extends downwardly into the chamber I2 coaxially of the upright steam outlet pipe 30, and the lower end of this tube 48 is provided with a flange 60 formed to direct any liquid which may be separated from the steam admitted to the chamber i2 from the pocket 40, toward the hot bottom of the expansion chamber, while the pipe 3d preferably extends upwardly some distance above the top of the chamber l2 within the tube da.

The upper closure shell i5 which normally ericloses and conceals the plate iii, may be formed oisheet-metal or other suitable sheet-like material, and is iirmly but removably attached to the plate it with its lower edge in close proximity to the top of the body I0, by means of several screws 5i, see Figs. 1- and 2. The manipulating handle it which may be formed of plastic, wood or other non-heat conducting material, is firmly but detachably secured to the top of the shell I E by means of other attaching screws 52, and such attachment should be effected before the cover shell is secured to the top plate I4. The cover shell l5 is provided beneath the grip portion of the handle I6, with a central opening 53 through which the manipulating projections 54 of the dial 23 extend, and also has a window 55 formed therein adjacent to the opening 53 as shown in Fig. l. The rear end of the handle I6 has an integral heel I1 as previously indicated, for the purpose ofsupporting the liron on end when not in -use, and the forward portion of the handle I6 :agencia as shown. The handle attaching screws I2 may bu caused te coact with metal bushings l1 em-l bedded in the plastic or wood; and the cable guard I8 which is formed of rubber or the like, pierces the rear side portion of the handle I6 and provides a conduit communicating with a rear pocket formed in the handle.

The heat regulating thermostat 20 which is mounted upon the sole plate 1 beneath the body I0, may be of any well known construction adapted to maintain the ironing shoe at a predetermined temperature in accordance with adjust ments effected by the dial 23, and this thermostat 20 is also operable as a switch to start and stop the flow of current through the heating element 8. The thermostat 20 is therefore connected inv series with one of the electrical conductors I9 and with one of the rearwardly protruding ends of the element 8, by means of connections 58, and the other protruding end of the element 8 is connected to the other conductor I9 by a connection 59. These connections 58, 59 are normally concealed by the removable sheet metal cap 24 which is detachably securedv to the body I by rated tube It into the upper end of the expansion v chamber I2.

4`.Any entrained moisture thus delivered into the chamber I2'will flow downwardly. either along the internal surface of the tubular chamber I2, or along the outer wall of the separator tube 48 and the flange 50 thereof, and will eventually come in contact with the hot bottom of the expansion chamber thus being quickly converted into steam. The steam thus generated together with the relatively dry steam from which the excess moisture has'been separated, then flows I upwardly through the tube 48 and downwardly through the pipe and fitting 29, into the distributing cavity' 26 formed in the sole plate 1. Since this cavity 26 is substantially surrounded by the heating element 8, it is quite hot and thus slightly superheats the dry steam flowing therethrough, and the superheated steam is thereafter delivered forwardly and in fan like formation v against the work engaging the surface 9, through the radial downwardly directed passages 28.

screws 6I) and cooperates with the handle heel Il to provide an end rest for the iron;AA and the thermostat actuating shaft 2| is housed within the body conduit 2| and has its lower end detachably associated with the thermostat 20 as shown in Fig. 2. l

The upper end of the thermostat actuating shaft 2 l is journalled for rotation in a bearing 6I secured to the top of the body I0 and having an l upper flange clampingly engaging the mid-portion of the top plate Ill, and the extreme upper end of the shaft 2i is serrated for the reception of a crank 62 which is angularly adjustable about the shaft 2l andhas an eccentric pin coacting with a recess in the dial 23, as shown in Fig. 2. The dial 23 is provided with an annular series of indicia designating off position and Various materials which may be safely ironed upon proper setting of the dial, and is guided for rotation by lugs 63 projecting upwardly'from the top plate it while being held within the opening 53 of the shell I5 by a compression spring 6d interposed between the dial and the top of the shaft 2l 'I'his assemblage of elements permits ready assembly and dismantling of the dial 23 and shaft 2 I, while permitting accurate initial positioning of the dial, and the spring til also compensates for expansion and contraction and for slight misalignmen't of parts.

When the various parts of the portable steam electric ironing unit have been properly constructedassembled and adjusted, the conductors I9 may be connected to a suitable source of electric current, and after the interior of the hollow body has been supplied with pure water upon removal f the filler plug and proper reinsertion thereof, the iron is ready for normal use. Depending upon the nature of the goods to be ironed, the dial 23 should be set to suit the work, and the thermostat 2@ will then function to regulate the temperature of the sole plate 'l as determined by the heating element 8, so as to properly perform the desired ironing. As the sole plate and the adjoining structure reach the predetermined temperature, liquid from within the body I0 beneath the partition plate I i will be converted into vapor or steam, which after passing through the space above the plate II and through any filtering material confined therein, passes through `the opening 39 and pocket lill and through the perfo- When a piece of work has been ironed, the atiron may beset on end and will be supported in approximately upright position by the rear heel Il of the handle I8 and by the rear cap 2d. These supports will not only support the assemblage in stable condition, but will prevent excessive heat vfrom reaching thesupporting surface, and during such positioning of the iron, the liquid within the hollow body Ill will flow against the end wall 38 and accumulated steam will continue to flow out through the passages 28 until all internal' pressure is spent. When the iron is set on end and the energizing current is shutoif, any liquid resulting from steam which condenses within the chamber I2 will flow from within the chamber through the perforated tube 46 into the pocket d@ from which it will drain back into the hollow body l@ through the tapered opening 3Q, when the iron is againrighted for normal use, In case the tube it or other passages should-become clogged so as to abnormally increase the internal steam pressure, the safety release valve d3 will become quickly effective to automatically release the excess pressure through the port iid, and the closure shell I5 effectively prevents this hot steam from reaching the operator and also prevents the handle I6 and dial 23 from becoming undesirably hot. The port -37 located beneath the filler plug 35 also protects the user from possible scaldin-g due to accumulations of steam within the body IB when reiilling becomes necessary, thus providing utmost safety for the operator.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be apparent that our present invention provides an improved electrically heated steam iron which besides being simple, compact and durable in construction, is also highly emcient in operation and flexible in its adaptations. The relatively simple main parts of the improved flatiron, may be readily firmly assembled with the aid of a screw driver, to attach the sole plate 'l i5, andthe shell l5 to the top plate itl; and these several elements may be just as readily dismantled so as yto permit inspection and cleaning of the various internal parts. The safety valve d3 may be set by manipulating vthe screw t5 upon removal of the shell I5, and the interior of the perforated tube 46 is freely. accessible upon removalof the plug dl; and the electrical connections are all freely accessible upon-re-I moval of the end cap M which may be effected by withdrawing the screws 86. The chamber I2, pipe 80, and perforated tube may all be formed from lengths of standard tubing, and by embedding the heating element 8 within the shoe and the baille plate Il within the body l during casting of these parts, the cost of construction is also reduced to a minimum. 'Ihe thermostat 20 and the electrical connections while being concealed and protected, are still readily accessible, and these electrical parts are .insure delivery of dry steam only from the passages 28, and-the dial 23 permits setting ofthe thermostat with utmost ease so as to insure reliable performance of the ilatiron.

By forming the body I0 and the top plate It of aluminum, and by constructing the handle I6 and dial 23 of light but durable plastic, and the shell I and cap 24 of sheet metal, an exceptionally light but strong unit results. The ening having a pocket therein in open communica- The- ' member also having restricted passagestherein tire assemblage may be manufactured and sold at moderate cost, and is extremely flexible in its adaptations and reliable in operation.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of operation, herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art. It is also to be understood that the various descriptive terms used herein should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the prior art.

We claim:

l.. In an electric steam iron, a sole plate having an electric heating element associated therewith and being provided with a steam distribution cavity near its forward portion, a liquid conni'ng casing resting upon said plate, means forming a steam expansion chamber within said casing above said cavity, a top closure for said casing having a pocket therein in open communication with the liquid space of said casing, a member spanning said pocket and having passage means in fluid communication with said chamber and including restricted passages in fluid communication with the liquid space of said casing through said pocket, and a riser pipe connecting said cavity with the upper portion of said chamber.

2. In an electric steam iron, a sole plate having an kelectric heating element associated therewith and being provided with a steam distribution cavity near its forward portion, a liquid connning casing resting upon said plate, means forming a steam expansion chamber within said casing above said cavity, a top closure for said casing having a pocket therein in open communication with the liquid space of said casing, a member spanning said pocket and having passage means in iiuid communication with said chamber and including restricted passages in uid communication with the liquid space of said casing through said pocket, a riser pipe connectconnecting said internal passage with the liquid space of said casing through said pocket, and a riser pipe connecting said cavity with the upper portion of said chamber remote from said member.

4. In an electric steam iron, a sole plate having an electric heating element associated therewith and -being provided with a steam distribution cavity near its forward portion, a liquid coniining casing resting upon said plate, means forming a steam expansion chamber within said casing above said cavity, a top closure for said casing having a pocket therein in open communication with the liquid space of said casing, a perforated tubular member spanning said pocket and having an internal passage in fluid communication with said expansion chamber, said member also having restricted passages therein connecting said internal passage with the liquid space of said casing through said pocket, a riser pipe connecting -said cavity with the upper portion of said chamber, and a separator tube suspended from said closure and depending into said chamber to form an apron surrounding the upper `end of said riser pipe.

5. In an electric steam iron, a sole plate having an electric heating element associated therewith and being provided with a steam ldistribution cavity near lts forward portion, a main liquid confining casing resting upon said plate] an auxiliary casing forming a steam expansion chamber within said main casing above said cavity, a top closure for both of said casings having a pocket therein in open communication with the liquid space in said main casing, a steam filtering member spanning said pocket and having passage means in iiuid communication with said expansion chamber and including restricted passages in duid communication with the liquid space of said main casing through said pocket, a riser pipe connecting said cavity with the upper portion of said chamber remote from said member, and a separator apron suspended from said closure and 'depending into said chamber between the upper end of said riser pipe and said filtering member.

6. In a steam separator for a steam iron, a sole plate having a heater associated therewith and being provided with a steam distribution cavity near its forward portion, a main liquid conning casing resting upon said plate, an auxiliary casing forming a steam expansion chamber within said main casing above said cavity, a top closure for both of said casings, a steam ltering member confined within said top closure and having passage means in uid communication with said expansion chamber and including restricted passages in direct fluid communication 9 with the liquid space of said main canins. a riser pipe connecting said cavity with the upper P01#- tion of said expansion chamber, and a separator apron suspended from said closure ,and depending into said expansion chamber between the upper end of said riser pipe and said filtering member.

` FRED W. BUSCH.

CHARLES H. DREWES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille o! this patent:

UNITED s'rA'rEs Ps'rnms Number Name Date 1,521,093 Hall Dec. 30,l 1924 1,962,940 Schaefer June 12, 1934 2,073,657 Stockton Mar, 10, 1937 2,179,259

Jones Nov. 7, 1939 Number Number Great Britain Oct. 27, 1937 

